Boris watch

[richard-af]

Nothing angers me more than those patronising adverts that imply having nice stuff on display "is asking for it" . yeah best assume everyone is a chunte and hide everything i own otherwise it's my fault

'fraid so.

[Bagpuss]

We treat bike theft as though it were a kind of natural event, like catching a cold or succumbing to some other morally neutral phenomenon.

When someone's bicycle is stolen the discussion is entirely about what he or she could have done to prevent it. The police talk about the need for tougher locks, and special serial numbers, and the cycling experts give out various bits of anti-theft advice. Don't have a bike that's too flash, they say. Try painting it some depressing colour, like orange or purple. Try having a basket at the front, they say, or mudguards, or anything to make your bike look a bit grungy and unappealing.

All of which advice may be well meant, but somehow makes me pop with rage, because we seem continually to be ascribing responsibility for the event to the victim, and ignoring the critical point. It wasn't some supernatural agency that nicked your bike, or nicked my bike. It wasn't oompa-loompas or fairies or bike elves. It was thieves.


Nothing angers me more than those patronising adverts that imply having nice stuff on display "is asking for it" . yeah best assume everyone is a chunte and hide everything i own otherwise it's my fault

[richard-af]

That's my point. Why would you bother???

Sorry DA for taking this

No. I meant that's it sounds funny - Organized Crime & the humble push bike. Yet it raises millions. Not so funny.

[Pondlife]

You have to laugh. Nicking bikes is now part of Organized Crime!

That's my point. Why would you bother???

Sorry DA for taking this

[richard-af]

No. The statement was that the middlemen were drug dealers (not takers) and that nicking bikes (or selling pirate DVDs in other articles) is part of organised crime.

You have to laugh. Nicking bikes is now part of Organized Crime!

[Pondlife]

No. The statement was that the middlemen were drug dealers (not takers) and that nicking bikes (or selling pirate DVDs in other articles) is part of organised crime.

[RightLaugh]

they nick the bikes to get money to pay the drug dealers for their weeks supply of drugs. I think.

[richard-af]

Although I agree with the sentiment, I always struggle with these statements

"Wouldn't it be fine to hunt down the middlemen - often drug-dealers - who encourage kids to go on their nicking sprees?"

Maybe I'm missing the point but why do drug dealers need to engage in petty theft and flogging pirate DVDs at car boot sales? Surely drug dealing is profitable enough without the hassle of coercing an army of ASBO fodder into nicking some greenies grifter.

It's a basic Business tenet: You need the buyer to have the money! Hence nicking stuff. Or am I confused? I don't think the pusher is nicking DVDs; it's the clientele.

[Pondlife]

Although I agree with the sentiment, I always struggle with these statements

"Wouldn't it be fine to hunt down the middlemen - often drug-dealers - who encourage kids to go on their nicking sprees?"

Maybe I'm missing the point but why do drug dealers need to engage in petty theft and flogging pirate DVDs at car boot sales? Surely drug dealing is profitable enough without the hassle of coercing an army of ASBO fodder into nicking some greenies grifter.

[richard-af]

Again he is spot on.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/m.../02/do0201.xml

Yes. And such a complex issue, too: stealing bikes is bad.

[DodgyAgent]

Again he is spot on.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/m.../02/do0201.xml